Our story
We know the housing market.
From the other side.
For years we opened the door to house hunters. We read their applications, led viewings and handed over keys. Now we use that experience to help you at the start: see what becomes available, understand what helps and respond prepared.
How it started
Looking for a home is
uncertain enough already.
Yet some search services leave you feeling that there is still all sorts to improve about you and your approach. Your profile, your presentation, your story: for every supposed shortcoming there is a paid fix.
We saw the consequences on the provider side: house hunters putting in more and more effort and spending money on things that made hardly any difference in the selection. We don't call that honest help.
You are looking for a home.
Not a better version of yourself.
Selection is about concrete conditions, such as whether you can afford the rent. A nicer story does not change them. If you meet them, what you mostly want is to be able to reply in time. A heads-up helps with that.
Searching once is not expertise.
Searching yourself shows you how difficult it can be. To help and guide people looking for a home, you also need to know the rental market, the rules and how things work day to day. We bring that knowledge, along with years of practical experience and our network in the sector. We use it to help you understand what is useful, what to look out for and what steps you can take.
That is why we built OpenSein. Alerts when listings appear. Digital guidance and preparation based on our practical knowledge.
Other search platforms, loosely paraphrased:“We were looking for a home ourselves. It was hard. So we started a platform.”Read on
That is like having been in an ambulance once and thinking as you step out: “Right. I'm starting a hospital.” Add a website, put a subscription on it and let the patients come. After all, you have been on the stretcher yourself.
Having lived through a problem is not expertise. Certainly not if you then charge money for the solution.
We came up with the idea while we were doing the viewings, assessing the applications and signing the rental contracts. At our desks sat house hunters who had neatly followed every tip. The personal letter. The extra phone call. The paid trick. Lots of effort, little difference.
We wanted to do something about that. With OpenSein we use our expertise to help you: knowing what makes sense, leaving aside what adds nothing and seeing in time where you can reply.
For years we opened the door for you. So we also know how to get your foot in the door.
The people writing to you
People from the trade.
With the technology in-house.
We are estate agents, property specialists and developers. Together we signed thousands of rental contracts and sold hundreds of homes. Some of us still work with new listings every working day. So our knowledge also comes from today's market.
Our developers build the technology and our DevOps team keeps it running. Our service desk helps with OpenSein and questions about your rental search.
At birthday parties, the talk turns to rents or server logs within ten minutes. We are working on it.
Eyes open, hands free
We keep watch.
You get on with your life.
Can you afford the rent and do you meet the conditions? Then you want to be there in time. With popular homes, applications pour in fast. OpenSein helps you see when you can reply. How the selection goes is up to the provider.
You can keep refreshing all day or let us keep watch.
We follow the listings.
OpenSein keeps an eye on housing providers and spots new listings.
You get an alert.
So you don't have to keep checking yourself whether anything new has appeared.
You reply yourself.
Directly with the provider, in the way they ask for. You stay in control.
The lookout doesn’t need an oar.Read on
Looking for a home is almost a second job already. So we divide the work: OpenSein keeps an eye on the providers it follows and alerts you to matching listings. You look at the home and decide whether to reply. On a boat, not everyone peers through the same binoculars at once. Someone still needs to steer.
We like that division of labour: we keep watch, you take the helm.
No castles in the air
An alert and
an honest story.
Looking for a home already costs enough time, energy and money. That is why we are clear about what you pay us for, what we do for you and what you can expect from us.
Speed is not behind a paywall.
We do not deliberately hold back alerts for free users. Paid options give you more providers, filters and channels.
You reply.
As yourself.
OpenSein sends an alert, not an application on your behalf. You are in touch with the provider yourself.
Open about
our reach.
We look at what a source adds. A long list of web addresses says little on its own about the number of different homes.
Castles in the air? Terrible insulation.Read on
A long list of sources, a big number or a hefty price does not tell you what you actually get. So we explain which listings we follow and what your pass adds. We cannot promise you a home: the provider makes that decision. You can draw any house bigger on paper. That does not make room for another moving box.
So we keep our story true to size. Saves you getting the tape measure out.
We can send you an alert.
Not promise you a key.
The provider decides who gets the home.
We help you see what becomes available, so you can apply yourself. With knowledge from the inside, we’re now standing beside you on the doorstep.
Good luck finding your new home.
Love,
Team OpenSein